Big-play receivers Hansen, Owusu lead respective offenses

Well-received

The Musketeers prepare for a showdown with Oaks Christian for a spot in the Marmonte League title game.

Danny Page / VCStar.com

Wide receiver Chad Hansen (left) defends against a teammate during a Moorpark High practice on Tuesday

Special to The Star

Back when Chad Hansen was playing football in the Moorpark youth leagues, the touchdowns piled up like a onslaught of fall leaves.

"When I was playing with the Mighty Mites, it seems like I scored touchdowns all the time," he said with a grin. "Ever since then, not nearly so much."

As a senior wide receiver with the Moorpark High football team, Hansen has rediscovered his scoring touch.

The 6-foot-3, 180-pounder is lighting it up like, say, Kobe Bryant does it on the basketball floor. Hansen leads all county large-school receivers with 11 touchdowns, while pulling in 23 catches for 566 yards.

What's impressive is that nearly half his receptions have turned into touchdowns. The yards per catch — at 24.6 — tops all county receivers.

"He's having a great season," said Moorpark coach Tim Lins. "He's got a great burst, and an easy stride that hides how fast he is running."

Hansen's stellar campaign, aided immeasurably by a keen working relationship with quarterback Austin Cole, is one key reason why Moorpark finds itself in a high-stakes game Friday night.

The Musketeers, at 7-1 overall and 3-0 in the Marmonte League, will take on host Oaks Christian (7-1, 3-0) beginning at 7 p.m.. To the victor goes the first-ever ML West Division title and a berth in next week's league championship game vs. St. Bonaventure.

The winner is also guaranteed one of the league's top two seeds for the upcoming Pac-5 Division playoffs.

"It (scoring touchdowns) is the best way I can help this team win games and reach all our goals," said Owusu, a 6-3, 205-pound senior. "I try to have the attitude of getting the most out of every catch. I'm looking for an opportunity to turn every catch into a score."

Impact performances by Owusu and Hansen this season demonstrate that, sometimes, it is better to receive.

Their sheer speed and explosiveness creates nightmare matchups for opposing defenders. For both players, a heavy workload in the offseason has made them, well, lighter on their feet.

"I definitely think running track and all the work in the weight room has helped me to get faster," said Hansen. "The added strength seems to pay off, especially in running faster out of breaks."

Owusu concurs.

"I didn't take a lot of time off last summer," he said. "I was always trying to get faster and stronger. This is my senior season, and I wanted to be ready."

Both players relish the challenge Friday night.

"Moorpark has a great defense," said Owusu. "They're fast. They're strong. We're going to have to play well to get a win."

Said Hansen: "It's definitely a big game for us. We've never beaten them; it would mean a lot to us to be the first team to do it."

Since joining the Marmonte League in 2010, Oaks Christian has posted two victories in two tries vs. Moorpark. Last year's game was close, with the Lions scoring a 17-14 decision.

Oaks Christian is battling an injury wave as it prepares to take on the Musketeers. Five starters missed last week's game against Calabasas, including wide receiver Chris Davis and lineman Robert McGee. Touted transfer Darick Holmes hasn't played since September.

"If we're missing five starters, that's like 10 because they go both ways for us," said Oaks Christian coach Jeff Woodruff.

"You've got to be lucky enough to have opportunities," Hansen said. "It's not just getting open. It's having an offensive line that gives the quarterback time to throw, and it's having the trust of your quarterback."

Hansen has earned that respect through hard work, toiling long hours with Cole through the offseason and summer passing league.

"That was important for both of us," Hansen said. "There's nothing more important than long hours of work in developing chemistry with your teammates."

Owusu notes that confidence is a valuable trait for a receiver. Try as you might, you can't catch them all.

"If there's a bad play or you drop a pass, it's important to have the confidence to come right back on the next play," he said. "It helps to be mentally strong."

Owusu, too, has genes and tradition on his side.

He's the younger brother of former Lions star Chris Owusu, who went on to star at Stanford and play in the NFL. His father, Francis Sr., was a member of Ghana's Olympic team as a 400-meter runner.Francis doesn't have a problem following in his brother's footsteps in both high school and, beginning next year, as a collegian.

"I've had that here (at Oaks Christian) and I'll have that at Stanford," he said. "I'm going to be compared to my brother. But that would have happened no matter where I play. I've learned a lot from my brother and he's been a big influence for me."

Both players don't spend much time on the bench. Hansen starts at cornerback on defense and Owusu is a starting safety.

Oaks Christian vs. Moorpark is among several significant games tonight, including two that could decide league championships.

Camarillo and Pacifica are each 3-0 in the Pacific View League entering their game at Camarillo. The Scorpions can cinch the league title outright. Pacifica can claim at least a share of the title.

Fillmore will visit Malibu beginning at 6:30 p.m. with the winner taking the Frontier League championship.

Ventura and Buena are playing must-win games in the Channel League. Buena can earn at least a share of the league title by beating Dos Pueblos. With a loss, the Bulldogs might miss the playoffs.

Ventura likely finishes no lower than second with a win at Santa Barbara. A defeat could place the Cougars on the sidelines in postseason.